5 storylines to monitor as Chicago Bears begin OTAs

The Chicago Bears are reconvening on Monday May 20th for the first of six voluntary OTA practices. This phase of offseason workouts are scheduled to take place on May 20-21, May 23, May 28-29, and May 31st. With rookies and veterans mixing together, we’ve identified five critical storylines to monitor throughout the next set of Bears practices.

HOW IS CALEB WILLIAMS MESHING WITH VETERAN RECEIVERS?

Everyone is excited to watch fellow top-10 picks Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, but it’s imperative that Williams spend the offseason developing chemistry with his veteran receivers as well. These represent Williams’s first organized team practices with D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet, and others. The Bears surrounded Williams with an abundance of passing-game outlets. Getting Williams on the same page with those players begins now.

IS ROME ODUNZE HEALTHY?

Speaking of Odunze, he seemingly injured himself during the first of two rookie minicamp practices. Odunze missed the second and final practice of rookie minicamp with hamstring tightness. It’s been approximately two weeks since Odunze was held out of physical team activities for precautionary reasons. Will Odunze join Williams on the field for 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and/or 11-on-11 drills?

WHO’S THE SECOND EDGE RUSHER?

The Bears roster a legitimate game-changing pass rusher in Montez Sweat, but who will start opposite him in 2024 as the Bears attempt to field a more well-balanced defensive line? DeMarcus Walker, Austin Booker, and Dominique Robinson are among the options. Somebody has to emerge to remove some pressure from Sweat, who, at times throughout the 2023 campaign, was a one-man show.

WHICH RB2 WILL ASCEND BEHIND D’ANDRE SWIFT?

General manager Ryan Poles signed veteran running back D’Andre Swift to a lucrative contract in free agency. As a result, Swift will dominate touches in Chicago’s backfield, but who will spell him when he requires a breather? Sophomore fourth-round pick Roschon Johnson may possess the inside track on Khalil Herbert, who is entering the fourth and final season of his rookie contract.

IS GERVON DEXTER DEVELOPING INTO IMPACT STARTER?

The Bears did not sign or draft a veteran impact starter at defensive tackle. That places the onus on sophomore second-rounder Gervon Dexter Sr. to take a much-needed step forward. If the Bears are going to field a terrific defense, Dexter needs to emerge as an impact starter. Dexter struggled via limited playing time as a rookie in 2023, earning a run-stopping grade of 36.2 from Pro Football Focus. Dexter possesses the skill set necessary to play better football in 2024.